Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-15
morning. The mob


sistance The full story of Riddlebergers
committal for contempt of court and of his
rescue is as follows: On Thursday morning
the case of the commonwealth against W. W.
Jones, for misdemeanor, came up for trial
Senator Riddleberger, Gen. James Williams
and other counsel took up the morning SEES
sion with quibbles in behalf of Jones' AT
noon Williams asked the court to appoint
counsel for the prisoner. This made Riddle
berger angry, and he Withdrew from the
case. The court replied that it thought the
prisoner well represented. Then Williams
withdrew. When the case was called after
dinner none of the four or five lawyers who
had taken up the time of the court in the
morning in behalf of Jones appeared. The
court appointed counsel and proceeded with
the ease. Jones was adjudged insane, and
acquitted
On Friday noon Jones was made drunk,
placed in wagon and hauled through the
streets with placard which read: Verdict,
Bill Jones not guilty, but insane; jury insane,
lawyers insane, court insane in the main
Jones was taken to jail and Riddleberger was
cited before court to snow his connection
with the affair. Angry words passed between
court fined the senator SIS and ordered the
sheriff to take him to jail for five days. Rid
dleberger resisted arrest and the court added
five more days, and ordered by-standers TO
assist the sheriff. Riddleberger finally ac-
companied the sheriff to jail
Some of Riddlebergers friends then came
together and discussed the matter 1t was
decided to take him out By II O'Clock Fri
day night ali was quiet at the jail.
Mrs. Shui, wife of the jaier, said she was
awakened about o'clock Saturday
morning by some one knocking at
the main door of the jail and
demanding admittance She looked out of a
window from the upper story, and saw a
good-sized crowd of men in the yard Ad.
mittance was refused Mrs Shull appealing
to their regard for her helpless condition, as
her husband was sick in bed. The crowd
responded that they must get in and see
Harry" meaning Riddleberger Mis-. ShuI
then went to Riddleberger's cell and asked
him to speak to the crowd and have them 60
away. At this moment the door opening
from the kitchen to the front ward was
broken open, and the mob rushed III Mrs
Shull being in her night CLOTHES, ran back
INTO Une ROOM W nch IN the Kitchen TIT
mob were no nearer their goal A door still
interviewed, but some one in the mob knew
how the Jail was arranged, and they soon got
over that difficulty A ladder from a neigh,
boring engine housa was brought, then The
mob scaled the wall entered by the bach
loor from the Jail yard, and took RIddleber
ger out by the sane way.
Senator Riddleberger appeared on the
streets OF Woodstock about $50 Saturday
morning. The sheriff did not arrest him. h,
saws, on the following grounds: 1t had CONT
to his knowledge that some of the mob wer,
around on MapIenburg street, looking fol
Judge Newman, whom they found was alb
sent with his family at Seven Fountains,
pleasant retreat in a secluded part of th'
county The sheriff had information of bod
lily injury being threatened to the judge il
the senator should again be sent to Jail.
As the judge was alone in the country tn,
sheriff determined TO postpone action unit
his return. Judge Newman and the senator
are old enemies Senator Rddleberger lei
town Saturday morning, and his whereahOuL
are not known save to few friends